Priyanshu Wants To Be Part Of Meaningful Bengali Cinema

Kolkata: With films like Goutam Ghose'sMoner Manush and Aparna Sen's Iti Mrinalini in his kitty,actor Priyanshu Chatterjee says he is looking to create hisown space in meaningful Bengali cinema.

"I want to consolidate my hold in meaningful Bengalicinema while at the same time I will work on creating my ownspace in Bollywood with substantial roles," Priyanshu toldPTI.

With the adulation to his role as RabindranathTagore's elder brother Jyotirindranath in Moner Manushbehind him, the 38-year-old actor is looking forward to ItiMrinalini, the yet to be released film by Sen.

"I play a young director Imtiaz, who has studiedfilmmaking at a renowned institute abroad and has a bit of anego," said Priyanshu, who was in the city to promote Bengalifilm Bhorer Alo.

"My character comes into Mrinalini's life when she ispast her prime, wanting to make a film with her and himselfacts in the film. So here it is a film within a film format,"he added.

The film also stars Sen, playing an actress past herprime with daughter Konkona Sen Sharma playing the youngerMrinalini.

Priyanshu was approached by Sen before Goutam Ghosedid for Moner Manush, though the latter released monthsback.

"For me it was a great honour to be approached bydirectors like Rinadi (Aparna) and Goutamda back to back. Ihad read and heard so much about Jyotirindranath during mygrowing up years. But this time I had to research a lot.

"I found his jest for life, his literary bent of mind,his love for music as well as his administrative skillsinteresting. It was a challenge to project such a personality,a towering figure of the 19th century, interacting with afigure like baladeer Lalan Fakir," he said.

About his experiences to work with Sen and Ghosh,Priyanshu said, "While Rinadi (Sen) looks after every minutestaspect on the sets, about the look and costume of thecharacters, Goutamda leaves it to the natural instinct and isparticular about the camera angle."

Priyanshu, who had also acted in a Hindi-English filmGumshuda (2010) opposite Rajat Kapoor by director AsokBiswanathan, rued the fact that the film bombed.

"Asok da is a fine director who has a grasp over themedium but perhaps his lack of command over Hindi showed."

Among the new crop of Hindi film directors, Priyanshusaid he would love to work with Anurag Basu and DibakarBanerjee.

"I would love to work with Dibakar, who hasundoubtedly changed the face of budget, niche cinema over theyears. But I need to be approached first with a good script,"said the Tum Bin star.

Priyanshu also rated mushy love story Dil Ka Rishta(2003) and critically acclaimed Pinjar (2003) as thefavourite ones he has acted in.

Talking about his first international project FloridaRoad, directed by Durban-based American director Brad Glass,Priyanshu said the film has shaped up well.

The actor also said he wants to work with veterandirector Prabhat Roy, "whose films have been wholesome familyentertainers with accent on values."